CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are words used as joiners.
Different kinds of conjunctions join different
kinds of grammatical structures.
The following are the kinds of conjunctions:
A. COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS (FANBOYS)
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Coordinating
conjunctions join equals to one another:
words to words, phrases to
phrases, clauses to
clauses.
![](conj1.jpg)
Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser
connections than other conjunctions do.
![](conj2.jpg)
Coordinating conjunctions go in between
items joined, not at the beginning or end.
![](conj3.jpg)
Punctuation with coordinating conjunctions:
When a coordinating conjunction joins two
words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, no comma should be placed before the
conjunction.
![](conj4.jpg)
A coordinating conjunction joining three or
more words, phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a series and
requires commas between the elements.
![](conj5.jpg)
A coordinating conjunction joining two
independent clauses creates a compound sentence
and requires a comma before the coordinating
conjunction
![](conj6.jpg)
B. CORRELATIVE
CONJUNCTIONS
either. . .or
|
both. . . and
|
neither. . . nor
|
not only. . .
but also
|
These pairs of conjunctions require equal
(parallel) structures after each one.
![](paral5.jpg)
C. CONJUNCTIVE
ADVERBS
These conjunctions join independent clauses
together.
The following are frequently used conjunctive
adverbs:
after all
|
in addition
|
next
|
also
|
incidentally
|
nonetheless
|
as a result
|
indeed
|
on the contrary
|
besides
|
in fact
|
on the other hand
|
consequently
|
in other words
|
otherwise
|
finally
|
instead
|
still
|
for example
|
likewise
|
then
|
furthermore
|
meanwhile
|
therefore
|
hence
|
moreover
|
thus
|
however
|
nevertheless
|
|
![](conj7.jpg)
Punctuation:
|
Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb
and a comma after the
conjunctive adverb.
|
D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
These words are commonly used as subordinating
conjunctions
after
|
in order (that)
|
unless
|
although
|
insofar as
|
until
|
as
|
in that
|
when
|
as far as
|
lest
|
whenever
|
as soon as
|
no matter how
|
where
|
as if
|
now that
|
wherever
|
as though
|
once
|
whether
|
because
|
provided (that)
|
while
|
before
|
since
|
why
|
even if
|
so that
|
|
even though
|
supposing (that)
|
|
how
|
than
|
|
if
|
that
|
|
inasmuch as
|
though
|
|
in case (that)
|
till
|
|
Subordinating conjunctions also join two clauses
together, but in doing so, they make one clause dependent (or "subordinate")
upon the other.
![](conj8.jpg)
A subordinating conjunction may appear at a
sentence beginning or between two clauses in a sentence.
A subordinate conjunction usually provides a
tighter connection between clauses than a coordinating conjunctions does.
Loose: |
It is raining, so we have an
umbrella. |
Tight: |
Because it is raining, we
have an umbrella. |
Punctuation Note:
|
|
When the dependent clause is placed first in a
sentence, use a comma between the two clauses.
When the independent clause is placed first and
the dependent clause second, do not separate the two clauses with a comma.
|
|
![](conj9.jpg)
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